E.A.T. - European Audio Team Fortissimo S

Thorpe found the Fortissimo S superbly involving, praising its snap, start-stop dynamics, powerful scale and crisp timing. He also heard neutral tonal balance, enhanced low and mid-bass weight, low hash, open spatial presentation and authoritative piano transients.

Speed remained completely consistent throughout the review period, with wow measured at an exceptionally low 0.05%. Thorpe calls it the best wow result he has seen and links the deck's pitch certainty to its precise timing and sharply defined dynamics.

The supplied F-Note is part of a high-mass design using low-friction pinpoint bearings on diamond mirrors. Its VTA adjustment was straightforward enough for the reviewer to set correctly on the first attempt, although the review gives limited direct detail about tracking behavior or arm coloration.

Against the VPI Prime Signature, the E.A.T. offered stronger vibration isolation: a knuckle rap on the equipment rack produced silence through the Fortissimo S. Thorpe also reports a slightly lower noise floor, less surface-noise emphasis and no audible rumble.

Thorpe calls the Fortissimo S well constructed and says the turntable-and-arm combination consistently conveyed solidity and quality. The high-mass execution, diamond-mirror bearing arrangement and class-leading shipping crate reinforce the impression of careful, substantial construction.

The Fortissimo S is available as a deck only or paired with E.A.T.'s C-Note or F-Note 12-inch arms, allowing buyers to choose an appropriate package. In use, the reviewer found the system a pleasure, and the laser-assisted VTA arrangement made setup notably approachable.

Pricing spans $8,000 for the deck alone, $10,000 with the C-Note arm and $13,800 with the F-Note arm. The review is emphatic about performance and build quality, but does not directly assess value against similarly priced rivals.